Nut-locking device for air-compressors.



N. T. CLINE. NUT LOCKING DEVICE FOR AIR OOMPRESSORS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8, 1913.

LDIJU Z P HI! {I W l F 7 IJ H WITNESSES N. T. OLINE.

NUT LOCKING DEVICE FOR AIR OOMPRESSORS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8, 1913.

1 ,133,537. Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

2 SHEET S-SHEET 2 INVENTOR ATTOR N EY NELSQIY Ti. CLINE, 13F names ROCKS, PENNEY LVANI ;1Wr-r..ocm1vs Dist/run ror. Arn-corcrnnssons.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. so, 11915.

Application filed Becember 8, 1913. Serial Ho. 805,301).

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Nansen T. Cnnvn, a citizen of the United States, residing at McKees Rocks, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Nut-Locking Devices for Air-Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is designed primarily as an attachment to air compressors or pumps and has for its main object the provision of a simple and practical means for preventing the well known spanner nuts, which perform an important function in devices of this character, from working loose once they are properly adjusted, thus keeping the stufling box packing tight and avoiding leakage from the air and steam cylinders.

Further, my invention involves, in combination with the locking feature, a dirt or dust protector for the piston rod and p11 swab, which latter member is positioned 1ntermediate of the two stulhng boxes and surrounding the said piston rod, thereby preventing, or greatlyv minimizing, foreign matter from entering the stuhing boxes.

A still further advantage residing in my invention is its simplicity inconstruction and easy application to and removal from its intended operative position.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of my invention, wherein resides a detail form of construction susceptible 'of various modifications that will be within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring then to said drawings Figure l is a sectional view in elevation showing my device as applied to an air compressor illustrating the two spanner nuts in their locked position together with the intermediate oil swab; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the device in operative position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device, and Fig.4 is an end elevation showing the handle or gripping portion having resilient means in conjunction therewith.

As heretofore stated in the preamble to this specification my device is designed for removable position intermediate of the air and steam cylinders of any suitable form of air compressor or pump, but principally those employed on locomotives supplying air to the train line. In practically all of such air compressors there is employed, as a part of the essential equipment, at least two stufiing boxes, in conjunction with each of which there is utilized a peripherally engagement with the reciprocally operated piston rod. Surrounding said rod there is usually employed an adequate oil retaining swab, utilized for a well known purpose.

The detail construction of my invention involves the gripping or handle portions 1 and 2 respectively, which are here shown as being hingedly connected to each other by bolts 3, suitable nuts 4 being employed for a well known purpose. Seated around, or otherwise secured to. the said bolts 3 are spring members 5, their outer free ends being housed in and exerting pressure against the two segments of the handle portion. Integral with the said handle portions are semi-circular straps 6, preferably connected by vertically disposed strengthening ribs 7, and rigidly secured to these said members 6 are the sleeve portions 8, the outer free ends of which are designed to, abut each other and taken together form a complete circle and adequate protection or dust guard around the oil swab 9 and piston rod 16 when the device is in operative position.

The locking feature of my device designed and intended as a means to prevent the spanner nuts 10 from working loose, involves the longitudinally disposed inwardly projecting ribs 11 carried by the adjustable sleeve segments, said ribs being designed to engage in the registering flutes or longitudinally disposed grooves 12 formed in the peripheral surface of the said spanner nuts. Also carried by the said sleeve segments, and positioned at either side of the said ribs 11, are one or.more stops or pins 13, which engage against the circumferential shoulder 14: of the lowermost nut at either side of the flutes 12, serving as a means for holding the entire device in suspended position, and preventing it from dropping below its intended functional position.

These said stops or pins 13 are likewise capable of abutting the circumferential shoulder of the oppositely disposed nut,

thereby arresting longitudinal movement of the sleeve in either direction, when in its locked position surrounding both spanner nuts.

In order to apply my device in operative position the two normally distended portions of the handle are inward to the flutes 12 of both niits,

abutting free ends of the sleeve segments sufficient to permit free introduction of the spanner nuts, then by simply releasing pressure on said handles the spring elements. will automatically force the said handle por tions outward and close the gap between the free ends of the sleeve seghients, in which position the, device ,will approximately inclose the two spanner nuts and oil swab. It being presumed, that the said spanner nuts have previously been properly adjusted and that the vertically disposed flutes of both nuts will be in longitudinal .aline 'ent, one .with the/ other, the entire devi is manipulated by the operator in orde that the'ribs 11 will enter and seat in thereby arresting further rotary movement of the said spannerijnuts. At the-"same time the stops or pins 13 will jshoulder against the bottom nutand holdsaid device in suspension.

uflwing to the fact that the two spanner nuts are threadably adjusted in opposite directions longitudinally, they will both be held rigidly in position when locked together-as shown and described,as neither can turn independently without exertinga tightening up function of the opposite nut.- Q ,To 'removethe device from its operative position simply requires compression of the a two portionsiof the handle sufiicient to insure clearance of the free ends of said sleeve segments. past the spanner nuts. It will therefore be readily apparent that quick ap plication and removal: of my device is possible; and when once properly positioned it; will perform its several intended functions without further attention. The two seini circular portions of the. sleeve insures an approximate complete barrier or protection around the oil swab and piston rod, in addition to its primarily designed function as a means for locking the two spanner nuts against movement. I have also provided suitable apertures 15 through the walls of said sleeve segments as a means for introducing oil to the said swab. This feature can be-elimlnated if found unnecessary but is here shown and anticipated as a useful expedient in conjunction with the other more important features.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A locking device for a peripherally grooved nut comprising a pair of spring controlled semi-cylind rical members nor mally maintained in position to completely encompass the nut, and longitudinally extending means integral with the inner face of said 'members and engaging in the grooves of the nut for maintaining said members in I looking engagement with the nut, one end of the device lockingly engaging the nut and l the other end'being locked against rotation.

-2. A locking device for a peripherally grooved nut comprising a pair of spring controlled semi-cylindrical members nor- 'I'nally maintained in position to completely encompass the nut, longitudinally extending means integral with the inner face of said members and engaging in the grooves of the nut for maintaining said members in locking engagement with the nut, said members having additional means carrieclby the inner faces thereof and capable of engaging the nut to arrest movement in one direction of said members with respect to the nut, one

end of the device loclnngly engaging the nut and the other end being locked against rotation.

3. The combination with-a; peripherally grooved nut, of a locking device therefor, said device comprising a pair of semi-cylins drical members capable of completely, encompassing the nut and" further being removably mounted around the nut, a handle memben projecting from one end ofone of said members, a second handle member projecting from one end of the other of said members and pivotally connected to the first mentioned handle member, means for maintaining said semi-cylindrical members normally in abutting engagement, and meanscarried upon the inner face of said'members and capable 'of engaging in the grooves 'of the nut for locking said members-in position with respect to the nut, one end of; the device lockingly engaging the nut and the other end being locked against rotation.

4. A locking device for a plurality of alining spanner nuts comprising a pair of spring controlled semi-cylindrical members capable of completely encompassin the nuts, and a pluralit of longitudinal y extending ribs carried by the inner face of each of said members and capable of engaging in the sides of the nuts for locking said members relatively to the nuts.

5. A locking device for a plurality of alining spanner nuts comprising a pair of spring controlled semi-cylindrical members capable of completely encompassing the nuts, a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs carried by the in er face of each of jecting from the inner face of each of said members and capable of abutting against .85 A capablev of said nuts for arresting longitudinal'move-r ment of said members in either directipn With respect-tothe nuts."

6. A locking, device for a plurality alining spanner nuts comprising a pair of spring controlled semi cylindrical members capable of w'completely encompassing the nuts, a plurality, of longitudinally extending r1bs carried by the inner face of each of is e said membersand ca able of engaging in -the side of the nuts or locking said memspect to the nuts, said members being further provided With openings for the passage of oil to the interior of the members.

7. A locking device for a pair of alining spanner nutscomprising a pair of semicylindrical members having their inner faces provided With means engaging in the side of the nuts for locking said members relatively to the nuts, handle members projecting from opposite ends of said semicylindrical members, means for pivotally connecting one of said handle members to the other, and resilient means engaging with said handle members for normally acting to maintain the said semi-cylindrical mem bers in the form of a cylindrical body.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NELSON T. CLINE. Witnesses EMMA LEA MONTGOMERY, FRANK N. MASON. 

